Warfare in News

Posted on Wednesday 29th May

On Friday, 31 May, the Royal Navy's last remaining Type 42 destroyer, HMS Edinburgh will return for the final time to her home port of Portsmouth before being decommissioned on 6 June.

As per Royal Navy tradition, Edinburgh will be flying a decommissioning pennant on her final journey, accompanied by one of the Navy's successor Type 45s, HMS Diamond.

Edinburgh has carried out a farewell tour of the UK over the past month, visiting Edinburgh, Liverpool – where she was built – and London, where she played a part in events to mark the Battle of the Atlantic 70th anniversary.

On her approach to the harbour, Edinburgh will fire a 21-gun salute, with a response from the saluting gun at Fort Blockhouse, Gosport. There will also be a fly past by a Sea Fury of the RN Historic Flight plus a modern-day Lynx helicopter if the weather allows it.

Her Commanding Officer, Commander Nick Borbone, said:

'After the success of her final operational deployment in March, this has been a fitting finale to an illustrious career for HMS Edinburgh.

'The welcome, hospitality and warmth that we have received during visits to the capital, her namesake city and finally to her birthplace in Liverpool is clear evidence of a nation that holds the Royal Navy in extremely high regard.'

At Portsmouth Historic Dockyard this Saturday and Sunday, (1-2 June), the public will have a final chance to step on board a Type 42 as Edinburgh's doors open free of charge to the public, between 10am and 4pm.

Further Reading

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Dates in History

WWI Spring Offensive - The Kaiser's Battle

21st March 1918

At 9.30am on 21st March 1918, the last great battle of the First World War commenced when three German armies struck a massive blow against the weak divisions of the British Third and Fifth Armies. It was the first day of what the Germans called the Kaiserschlacht ('the Kaiser's Battle'), the series of attacks that were intended to break the deadlock on the Western Front, knock the British Army out of the war, and finally bring victory to Germany. In the event the actual cost of the gamble was so heavy that once the assault faltered, it remained for the Allies to push the exhausted German armies back and the War was at last over.

Further Reading

At 9.30am on 21 March 1918, the last great battle of the First World War commenced when three German armies struck a massive blow against the weak divisions of the British Third and Fifth Armies. It was the first day of what the Germans called the Kaiserschlacht (‘the Kaiser’s Battle’),… Read more at Pen & Sword...